Posted on 10/06/2020 8:36:49 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The Bible has been translated in its entirety into more than 700 different languages, meaning that over 5.7 billion people now have both the Old and New Testaments in their native tongue.
According to Wycliffe Bible Translations, the milestone was reached in recent weeks. The 700 total involves complete Bibles with all 66 books translated.
James Poole, executive director of Wycliffe Bible Translators, said the milestone “represents the tremendous work that Bible translators are doing across the world.”
“Every time we hear of the Bible being translated into another language, we know that means that for the first time the people in that language group can fully access the complete picture of God’s story,” Poole said. “It’s good to take a step back and realize what this 700th Bible means: 5.7 billion people who speak 700 languages now have the Bible in the language that speaks to them best. That is a remarkable figure and continues to grow.”
Wycliffe said it’s “impossible” to know which one was the 700th because there were “several launches of physical Bibles” and “several being made available online and via apps, all at about the same time.”
The group listed three recent Bible translations that could have been the 700th translation: The Huichol (Wixáritari) Bible was launched in Mexico, the Ellomwe Bible launched in Malawi; or the Igede Bible, which is used by a Nigerian ethnic group.
“It’s amazing that there is so much Bible translation going on that we can’t pinpoint the 700th Bible. We live in exciting times, when the vision that all people will be able to read or hear God’s word in their language is becoming a reality,” Poole said.
The American Bible Society also celebrated the news, pointing out that Bible translation has rapidly increased in the past few decades due to “advances in translation technology” and an “unprecedented level of partnership among Bible translation agencies.”
Over the last four years alone, the ABS has funded translations in 328 languages, most of them completed by local translators working the group’s fellowship of United Bible Societies.
“We are grateful to God, our ministry partners, and the financial partners whose generosity makes this Kingdom work possible,” ABS CEO Robert Briggs said.
Still, the group noted that the work is far from over, as more than half of the world’s 7,000 languages do not have access to any form of Scripture, and 1.5 billion people still are unable to read the full Bible in their own language.
ABS said its goal is to translate Scripture into 100% of the world’s living languages by 2033.
Modern technology has allowed the Bible — the bestselling book in the world — to reach millions in new and innovative ways. The number of languages with the full Bible has nearly doubled in the past 30 years, from 351 in 1990 to 700 in 2020, according to statistics .
In September, the first-ever complete Bible became available in American Sign Language, allowing the world’s 70 million people who are deaf to access Scripture for free.
According to the State of the Bible 2020 report released earlier this year by the Barna Group and ABS, most Bible readers (65%) prefer a printed version. However, millennials are about as likely to read the Bible digitally (52%) as they are in print (48%). Americans who live in a household that owns a Bible (77% of the population) are as likely to use a Bible app as those without a Bible in the house (56% vs. 55%).
It’s been translated into a lot of modern English versions unrecognizable from the texts of centuries ago, too. I wouldn’t be clapping too loudly about this feat.
Try finding a Gideon Bible the next time that you stay in a hotel. By and large, the Bibles have been removed.
The thirst for reading more of the Bible once one reads even a little is what makes it spread so far and wide.
You can burn them and you can block them online and you can imprison people for reading the Bible...but its audience still grows larger and larger.
There’s a reason for that.
RE: The thirst for reading more of the Bible once one reads even a little is what makes it spread so far and wide.
The other question is this -— How many people in the world are ILLITERATE ( can’t read or write )?
We’ll need AUDIO versions of the Bible in their languages.
Downside
It is far harder to redeem a fallen “Post” Christian society, than a Pagan people who have never seen the Light. I am reminded of the consequences of Blasphemy of The Holy Spirit. Lots of people have bibles in their library, never touched, gathering dust. They have heard the Truth, and denied it.
Along the way, the Auye learned to read and write. They've studied Scripture and their lives have been changed. Praise God.
To answer the question of “which version,” the translators went back, as much as they were able, to the original manuscripts. A lot of prayer, care, tears, and love went into ensuring it was a faithful translation, with no compromise of who God is. Much time was put into analysis of the Auye language and checking and rechecking to make sure it says what God said and that it would be understood correctly.
I know this. I, and my husband, claim a part in this translation work because we taught each of those five children, thus helping the parents focus their talents on teaching and transcribing the Word of God.
I am Mary Jemian Lott and I have been sent out by Mission To the World and Wycliffe Bible Translators. My husband and I Aide Bible Translation, Live in Southeast Asia, and Work As Teachers. (I put that in there for authenticity in case anyone wishes to check).
Wow.
Almost a Billion people are illiterate.
And honest, I’ve seen what passes for literacy in schools here. I’ve seen what gets one an A grade on high school book reports.
I’d up that number past a billion.
And yes, Audio is GREAT for the Bible.
Especially when someone with a commanding and sincere voice is reading it.
Like Charlton Heston :)
I am sure there are folks with those traits in every country.
Hearing the Word would be a beautiful thing for many who are struggling.
There are teams working on that as well. But, since God gave Moses a written down set of His laws, and since we are told to read and study the Scriptures over and over, and since Jesus obviously could read and write, shouldn't we also strive to give a written copy of the Word so we all can check what our preachers teach? Remember the Bereans!
Reminds me of Arthur C. Clarke’s short story, “The Nine Billion Names of God,” full text here...
https://urbigenous.net/library/nine_billion_names_of_god.html
Did the Fugawis get theirs?
This may seem off topic, but on a fundamental level it isn’t.
I need to find a brick maker here on FR, if you or anyone you know manufactures bricks or works for a company who does, please contact me by FReepmail.
Don’t forget all the potential converts in the Klingon Galactic Empire, since the Bible has also been translated into Klingon :)
Sadly, they will have no excuse . Sobering.
FROM THIS PAGE:
https://ourworldindata.org/literacy
Of the world population older than 15 years 86% are literate.
That means 14% of the world’s population cannot read or write.
Since the world’s population is 7.8 Billion ( see here: https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ ), that would mean about 1 BILLION people cannot read or write!
They either need to be educated so that they can read the Bible in their language, or other audio-visual means have to be made available for them.
Join the Gideons and/or fund their out reach.
Keep at it! Still patiently awaiting The Unveiling.
I think you’ll find it well worth the wait.
What wonderful and encouraging news! Our great family continually enlarges. Those Christians are cooperating with the Spirit by contributing to the conversion and assembling of Revelation 7:9’s “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language”.
Also Lolcat!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.